The Commons ChamberParliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of ParliamentYou may remember that I was raving about a visit to the Houses of Parliament last summer. Well, now there's some very good news. One of London’s most popular … [Read more...]
Scandinavian Christmas comes to London
The weekend when the Scandinavian Christmas fairs come to London is always when I start to feel festive. The Finnish Church in Rotherhithe opened its doors this Wednesday with wonderful Finnish foods, sweets and Christmas decorations, while the Scandinavian Christmas market on the street between the … [Read more...]
That was the Christmas that was….
One thing is certain, I will not forget Christmas 2013 in a hurry.On the evening of the 23rd December I felt so well prepared, it was almost uncanny that things went downhill only about four or five hours later.For the week leading up to Christmas, Daughter had been my wonderful Christmas elf, … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas!
Just a little snipped from my childhood…a school Christmas end of term concert from Finland in 1979. Look at those haircuts!Happy Christmas to you all! … [Read more...]
The 5:2 Diet and Christmas
Like any diets the 5:2 fasting diet is difficult to do during Christmas. The additional holidays, parties and the sheer amount of food associated with the season would play havoc with anyone's resolve, however bright their halo shines.During the holiday season there just doesn't seem any be any … [Read more...]
Happy ‘Little Christmas’!
In the Nordic countries we celebrate something called 'Little Christmas' on 1st of December. It's basically First Advent, but a less religious version. People have parties, children get presents from the elves, and the first advent candle is lit at breakfast (there's a huge FAIL in our household on … [Read more...]
Feeling poorly…
For weeks now I've been battling against a cold. I've tried everything; various nasal sprays, copious amounts of vitamin C and other potions, but last weekend my body finally caved in and I ended up in bed, having to cancel going to all sorts of lovely events, like the Finnish and Danish Christmas … [Read more...]
Christmas preparations
It's strange how the little things make all the difference to Christmas. Even though I put a few decorations up for Pikkujoulu on the 1st of December, and I've visited the various seasonal ex-pat fairs, as well as been to the Swedish Lucia carols, to me, it hasn't really felt like Christmas yet.But … [Read more...]
Danish YWCA Christmas Fair in Hampstead
I now have a nearly full set of Nordic Christmas Fairs in my basket of seasonal shopping activities. The last one (I promise) was a Danish one, which was held at Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead. This is an annual occasion and seemed very popular with locals and those travelling a bit further away. … [Read more...]
Finnish Christmas Fair
It never ceases to amaze me how two countries who are geographically so close can be so different. Take the two ex-pat Christmas Fairs I've just been to. Yesterday's Swedish Church was stylish, flash and showy. Set in the genteel part of town in Marylebone, it was where the well-heeled Swedes come … [Read more...]
